FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT FROM TOTTENHAM’S CL OPENER

After dispatching of Young Boys in the previous round, Tottenham kicked off their Champions League campaign proper last night against Werder Bremen in a thoroughly entertaining spectacle. The game finished 2-2 in the driving rain at Werder’s Weserstadion which on reflection was a fair result for both teams. Here’s 5 things we found out from Tottenham’s Group A opener.

1. Lapses in concentration cost Tottenham dear.

Tottenham came out of the blocks last night all guns blazing and had Werder firmly on the back foot for most of the first half. The German side simply had no answer to Tottenham’s high tempo game and found themselves two goals down after only 18 minutes but lapses in concentration on either side of half-time were to prove costly for Spurs.

First it was Benoit Assou-Ekotto whose attempt at a fancy cross-field pass with the outside of the foot gave Bremen a lifeline in the game. With the first half coming to a close, Assou-Ekotto errant pass gave Bremen the ball and from the resulting throw-in, Hugo Almeida converted Wesley’s pin-point cross.

Then, within minutes of the second half restart, Werder were level. Just as Tottenham did to Werder, the German side punished Tottenham for their slow start. The defence gave Marko Marin far too much room and he fired in the equaliser past Cudicini.

On the whole, Tottenham acquitted themselves admirably on their first Champions League group game but found out to their cost that concentration for the full 90 minutes is crucial at this level of football.

2. Despite all the injuries, Tottenham do have strength in depth

With injuries piling up on Harry Redknapp, there were concerns about whether the squad players would be able to step in a do a job for Tottenham. Last night, they proved that they certainly can. Jermaine Jenas started in favour of Wilson Palacios and looked highly assured alongside Tom Huddlestone in Tottenham’s midfield.

Jenas has polarised opinion amongst Tottenham fans but his performance last night was almost faultless. He looked assured in possession, passed the ball well and was a revelation in only his second appearance of the season.

Similarly, Younes Kaboul produced an excellent performance alongside Ledley King in the heart of Tottenham’s defence. He was a commanding presence all night and impressed with his aggressiveness, tenacity and ability to bring the ball out of the back and influence attacks. Kaboul’s display will go some way to alleviating the concerns at the back following Michael Dawson’s long-term injury.

3. 4-5-1 is the way to go for Harry in Europe.

Redknapp abandoned his preferred domestic 4-4-2 formation in favour of a 4-5-1 formation last night and it proved to be the correct one. He employed Rafael van der Vaart in the support striker position behind Peter Crouch, operating a free role in the hole behind midfield and attack. Van der Vaart was hugely influential in his role behind Crouch and it was his cross that set up Peter Crouch to head in Tottenham’s second goal.

4. Aaron Lennon looks off the pace

Gareth Bale was a constant threat down Tottenham’s left, giving right-back Clemens Fritz a torrid time all night. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Aaron Lennon who was ineffectual against Mikael Silvestre.

Lennon hasn’t been his usual blistering self since he was rushed back from injury by Fabio Capello to join England’s disastrous World Cup squad. Lennon has been somewhat untouchable in the right-wing spot and maybe Redknapp should contemplate rotating Giovanni dos Santos with Lennon to remind him that his place in the team is not guaranteed and to guard against complacency.

5. The group is wide-open

Tottenham and Werder Bremen produced a pulsating game last night but their fellow Group A opponents showed that this group, maybe of all groups in the Champions League could be the most wide-open in the whole tournament. FC Twente and Inter Milan fought out a 2-2 draw in Enschede, leaving all 4 teams with 1 point after the first game. With Inter Milan looking less of a force under Rafa Benitez than they did under Jose Mourinho, it looks all to play for when FC Twente roll into White Hart Lane in two weeks time for the next Champions League fixture.

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